Month: January 2012

Recalls and Alerts: January 8, 2012

Here is today’s list of food safety recalls, product withdrawals, allergy alerts and miscellaneous compliance issues. The live links will take you directly to the official recall notices and company news releases that contain detailed information for each recall and alert.

If you would like to receive automatic email alerts for all new articles posted on eFoodAlert, please submit your request using the sidebar link.

United States

  • OTC Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall: Novartis Consumer Health, Inc. (Parsippany, NJ) recalls select bottle packaging configurations of Excedrin® products (All lots; Expiry dates of December 20, 2014 or earlier), NoDoz® products (All lots; Expiry dates of December 20, 2014 or earlier, Bufferin® products (All lots; Expiry dates of December 20, 2013 or earlier), and Gas-X Prevention® products (All lots; Expiry dates of December 20, 2013 or earlier), because the products may contain stray tablets, capsules or caplets from other Novartis products, or may contain broken or chipped tablets. The recalled products were distributed throughout the USA.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Food Safety Alert (China): The Shenzhen food safety regulator reports having found aflatoxin in peanuts sold in three stores in the region and in cooking oil from four restaurants.
  • Food Safety Alert (Hong Kong): The Centre for Food Safety has suspended import of poultry products from certain places in Shenzhen after a confirmed human case of avian influenza (H5N1) was reported.
  • Outbreak Alert (Hong Kong): The Centre for Health Protection reports an outbreak of gastroenteritis among two staff members and 19 residents (all women) of a home for the elderly in Kwun Tong District.
  • Outbreak Alert (Hong Kong): The Centre for Health Protection reports a suspected food poisoning outbreak among 10 female residents of a halfway house in Wong Tai Sin.
  • Outbreak Alert (Jordan): Sixteen residents of Zarqa (east of Amman) were hospitalized with food poisoning symptoms earlier this month. All were reported in stable condition.
  • Outbreak Alert (India): Four children and three adults were hospitalized with food poisoning symptoms after sharing a morning meal in Bhuna village.
  • Outbreak Alert (India): Six girls are in serious condition and as many as 58 students in all began vomiting after having lunch at a government ashram school in Borgaon village. The girls complained of nausea and giddiness.

Some supermarket chains post recall notices on their web sites for the convenience of customers. To see whether a recalled food was carried by your favorite supermarket, follow the live link to the supermarket’s recall web site.

*The Kroger umbrella encompasses numerous supermarket, marketplace and convenience store chains, listed on the Kroger corporate home page.
**Includes Safeway, Vons, Pavilions, Dominick’s, Genuardi’s, Randalls, Tom Thumb, Carrs and Pak N’ Save.

Recalls and Alerts: January 7, 2012

Here is today’s list of food safety recalls, product withdrawals, allergy alerts and miscellaneous compliance issues. The live links will take you directly to the official recall notices and company news releases that contain detailed information for each recall and alert.

If you would like to receive automatic email alerts for all new articles posted on eFoodAlert, please submit your request using the sidebar link.

United States

  • Allergy Alert: Enhorabuena! (Bayamón, PR) recalls Palitos de Guayaba/Guava Sticks (7-oz bags, 11-oz cans and 10-unit packs), due to the presence of undeclared milk, wheat, tree nuts, and eggs. The recalled product was distributed in Puerto Rico retail stores during December 2011.
  • Allergy Alert: Bloch’s Best Inc. dba Laromme (Monsey, NY) recalls Laromme brand Vanilla Rugelach (14-oz containers; UPC 87062500954-8), due to the presence of undeclared eggs. The recalled product was distributed in retail stores in Massachusetts, Maryland and New Jersey between November 2nd and December 22, 2011.
  • Allergy Alert: Price Chopper recalls Gourmet Stuffed Clams (UPC 20918100000; Sold October 1st through December 23, 2011), due to the presence of undeclared milk, wheat and eggs.
  • Food Safety Alert: The Minnesota Department of Agriculture and Pepin Heights Orchards advise consumers to avoid drinking Pepin Heights brand Honeycrisp 100 Percent Fresh Pressed Apple Cider (64-oz plastic jugs; Use by FEB 09 12), after department lab tests found some product may be contaminated with patulin, a mycotoxin. The affected product was distributed in Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin.
  • Food Safety Recall: Missouri Department of Agriculture’s Meat and Poultry Inspection Program temporarily halts all cooked-meat processing for retail and wholesale at Kleoppel Meats d.b.a Alma Meats (Alma, MO) due to violations identified during an inspection. Kleoppel Meats d.b.a. Alma Meats is recalling 320 pounds of meat, including summer sausage, snack sticks, beef jerky and roast pork produced on various dates between November 14, 2011 and November 23, 2011.
  • Food Safety Recall: Green Valley Food Corp. expands its earlier recall of Let’s Grow Healthy Together, Green Valley Food Corp, and Broccosprouts sprout and salad blend products to include additional products. The recall was initiated after random samples tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes. Please refer to the January 3, 2012 recall notice for a detailed list of recalled products.
  • Food Safety Recall: Bekkum Family Farms LLC (Westby, WI) recalls Nordic Creamery Brand Grumpy Goat Shreds (8 oz bags; Code date 10-MAR-12), because it may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled product was sold in Wisconsin, Minnesota and California beginning November 11, 2011.
  • Food Safety Recall: S. Martinelli & Company (Watsonville, CA) recalls Martinelli’s Gold Medal Sparkling Cider (250mL glass bottles in six-packs; Best by 11 APR 2014, 12 APR 2014, 13 APR 2014 and 14 APR 2014), due to the possibility of a defective seal that could break when opening the bottle. The recalled product was distributed in the Western USA.
  • Food Safety Recall: Rich Products Corporation recalls 1/4 Sheet Vanilla Flavored Pre-Soaked Sponge Cake Artificially Flavored (Product Code 00405; Produced after July 10, 2011), because small plastic fragments from the packaging were found on top of the product. The recalled product was produced by Rich’s in Ocoyoacac, Mexico and imported into the USA by Rich’s.
  • Outbreak Alert Update: CDC reports that 19 cases of Salmonella Typhimurium infections in seven states are linked to consumption of ground beef purchased from Hannaford supermarkets. The confirmed illnesses were reported in Hawaii (1), Kentucky (1), Massachusetts (1), Maine (4), New Hampshire (6), New York (5) and Vermont (1).

Europe

  • Allergy Alert (Germany): Milupa GmbH recalls Milubrei Abendbrei Banana Cereal, for ages 4-months and up, due to the presence of undeclared gluten and wheat.
  • Food Safety Recall (Switzerland): Ferme de Jouvence recalls Le Camembert Fermier (275g pkg; Lot #11309VC; Best if used by 14.01.2012), because the product may be contaminated with Salmonella. The camembert was imported into Switzerland from France in mid-December 2011.
  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall (France): Le Laboratoire Hospira France recalls Tomudex 2mg Powder for Infusion solution (Lots #1857244V (EXP février 2013), 1857244M (EXP février 2013), 1857244F (EXP février 2013), 1857245P (EXP mars 2013), and 1857245W (EXP mars 2013)), because the sterility of the product may not be assured.

Australia and New Zealand

  • Food Safety Recall (Australia): Coles Supermarkets Pty Ltd recalls Coles Frozen Chicken and Vegetable Pies (4-pack/700g; Best before 18 MAR 13 and 19 MAR 13), due to the presence of bone fragments. The recalled products were distributed nationally in Coles, BI-LO and Pick n’ Pay stores.

Some supermarket chains post recall notices on their web sites for the convenience of customers. To see whether a recalled food was carried by your favorite supermarket, follow the live link to the supermarket’s recall web site.

*The Kroger umbrella encompasses numerous supermarket, marketplace and convenience store chains, listed on the Kroger corporate home page.
**Includes Safeway, Vons, Pavilions, Dominick’s, Genuardi’s, Randalls, Tom Thumb, Carrs and Pak N’ Save.

US Shredded Cheese Recalls Multiply

On December 29, 2011, Miller’s Cheese Corp. (Brooklyn, NY) sent a recall notice to its customers. The notice began:

Dear Customer: 

For the first time in our 110-year history, a voluntary recall by the State of Wisconsin involves a packaging facility that handles only the shredding and packaging (not the actual cheese production) of some limited shredded Miller’s products. Although the test results for all of the Miller’s shredded cheese distributed in the market place tested negative for Listeria monocytogenes, the State of Wisconsin has requested a voluntary recall of all the products that were shredded in that plant from the time the listeria was found in another brand of cheese also packed in this plant.

That same day, World Cheese Company (New York, NY) also sent a recall notice to its customers. That notice began:

Dear Customer:

For the first time in our 75-year history, a voluntary recall by the State of Wisconsin involves a packaging facility that handles only the shredding and packaging (not the actual cheese production) of some limited shredded Haolam products. Although the test results for all of the Haolam’s shredded cheese distributed in the market place tested negative for Listeria monocytogenes, the State of Wisconsin has requested a voluntary recall of all the products that were shredded in that plant from the time the listeria was found in another brand of cheese also packed in this plant.

The initial recalls covered certain varieties of Miller’s and Haolam shredded cheeses; however, Alpine Slicing and Cheese Conversion Company (a Wisconsin company) soon chimed in with its own recall list, covering several brands of grated and shredded cheeses.

Following is a consolidated list of shredded and grated cheeses cheeses, all of which were recalled recently due to potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes:

Several retail supermarkets and grocery stores have alerted their customers to this recall, including:

  • Giant Food, LLC: Miller’s Shredded Cheddar Cheese (UPC 7881236950), Miller’s Shredded Mozzarella Cheese (UPC 7881200910), Haloam Shredded Cheddar Cheese (UPC 2663826200), Haolam Shredded Mozzarella Cheese (UPC 2663800264) and Haolam Shredded Pizza Cheese (UPC 2663826300)
  • Giant Eagle, Inc: Haloam Shredded Cheddar Cheese (UPC 2663826200), Haolam Shredded Mozzarella Cheese (UPC 2663800264) and Haolam Shredded Mozzarella/Cheddar (UPC 2663826500)
  • Giant Food Stores: Miller’s Shredded Cheddar Cheese (UPC 7881236950), Miller’s Shredded Mozzarella Cheese (UPC 7881200910), Haloam Cheddar Shredded Cheese (UPC 2663826200), Haolam Shredded Mozzarella Shredded Cheese (UPC 2663800264) and Haolam Regular Real Natural Pizza Shredded Mozzarella Muenster Cheese (UPC 2663826300)
  • Kroger, King Soopers, City Market & QFC: Miller Shredded Fancy Cheese (8 oz), Miller Shredded Mozzarella Cheese (8 oz.), Miller Shredded Muenster Cheese (8 oz), Miller Shredded Mozzarella Cheese (16 oz), and Miller Shredded Colored Cheddar Cheese (8 oz). Affected in Kroger stores located in Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama and Knoxville, Tennessee, Texas and Louisiana, Central and Northwest Ohio and N. West Virginia panhandle, North Carolina, Virginia, Eastern WV, Eastern Kentucky, SE Ohio, Greater Memphis, TN, Arkansas, Mississippi and Western Kentucky; King Soopers, City Market and QFC stores.
  • Price Chopper: Miller’s Shredded Cheddar Cheese (UPC 7881200910?), Miller’s Shredded Mozzarella Cheese (UPC 7881200910), Haolam Shredded Mozzarella Cheese (UPC 2663800264) and Haolam Shredded Pizza Cheese (2663826300).
  • Stop & Shop: Miller’s Shredded Cheddar Cheese (UPC 7881236950), Miller’s Shredded Mozzarella Cheese (UPC 7881200910), Haloam Shredded Cheddar Cheese (UPC 2663826200), Haolam Shredded Mozzarella Cheese (UPC 2663800264) and Haolam Shredded Pizza Cheese (UPC 2663826300)
The recalled cheeses were distributed as follows in California (added January 11, 2012):
  • Grumpy Goat Shredded Cheese: Windmill Farms (San Diego) and Sunflower Markets (Modesto)
  • Edelweiss Fondue Cheese: Sprouts Market (Chula Vista) and Sunflower Markets (Modesto and Roseville)
  • Miller Shredded Cheeses: AMM (Mission Viego), Cambridge Farms (N. Hollywood), Catering by Felicia (Poway), Elat Market (Los Angeles), Encino Kosher (Encino), Farmers Ranch (Van Nuys), Glatt Mart (Los Angeles), Jordan Market (Laguna Hills), Kitov Market (Los Angeles), Kosher Club (Los Angeles),  Le Market (N. Hollywood), Livonia (Los Angeles), Mr. Kosher (Encino), Pars Kosher Market (San Jose), Pico Glatt Kosher (Los Angeles), Royal Palate Foods (Inglewood), Santa Clarita Valley Prod (Valencia), Super Ranch Market (Mission Viego), Super Sal Encino (Encino), Valley Produce (Reseda), and Ventura (Tarzana)
  • World Cheese Co (Haolam) Shredded Cheeses: Ariel Glatt Market (Los Angeles), Baron’s – Rancho Bernardo (San Diego), Cambridge Farms (N. Hollywood), Elat Market (Los Angeles), Encino Kosher (Encino), Fields Market (West Hills), Glatt Mart (Los Angeles), Jordan Market (Laguna Hills), Kitov Market (Los Angeles), Kosher Bazar (Reseda), Kosher Club (Los Angeles), La Brea Kosher (Los Angeles), Le Market (N. Hollywood), Livonia (Los Angeles), Meir Produce (Los Angeles), Mr. Kosher (Encino), Nutrition Wise (Los Angeles), Orange County Kosher (Tustin), Pars Kosher Market (San Jose), Pico Glatt Kosher (Los Angeles), Royal Palate Foods (Inglewood), Shalom & Sons (Los Angeles), Shalom Pizza (Los Angeles), Super Sal Encino (Encino), Valley Produce (Reseda), Ventura (Tarzana), Vine Ripe Farmers Market (La Mesa), Western Kosher (Los Angeles), and Wholesome Choice Irvine (Irvine)